Other Reference Books
Excellent reference books on lost mines and treasures, signs and symbols, and shipwrecks. These books are required reading for the understanding of symbolism and how it was used by the Spanish to map the locations of their mines and shipwrecks in the New World.
OTHER REFERENCE BOOKS ON TREASURE SITES IN THE USA AND AROUND THE WORLD
“Oklahoma Treasures and Treasure Tales”
Author: Steve Wilson
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Publishing Division of the University
A rare, hard to find book, but an excellent reference guide.
“Son, there’s more treasure buried right here In Oklahoma than in the rest of the whole Southwest.” Those words from an old-timer launched Steve Wilson on a yearslong quest for the stones of Oklahoma’s treasures. This book is the result.
It is a book of stories-some true, some legendary- about fabulous caches of lost treasure: outlaw loot buried in the heat of pursuit, hoards of Spanish gold dud silver secreted for a later day, Frenchmen’s gold ingots hidden amid massive cryptic symbols, Indian treasure concealed in caves, and lost mines- gold and silver and platinum.
It tells about the earliest treasure seekers of the region and those who are still hunting today. Along the way it describes shootouts and massacres, trails whose routes are preserved in the countless legends of gold hidden alongside them, Mexicans’ smelters, and mines hidden and sought over the centuries.
Among the chapters:
‘The Secrets Spanish Fort Tells,”
“Quests for Red River’s Silver Mines,”
“Oklahoma’s Forgotten Treasure Trail,'”
“Ghosts of Devil’s Canyon and Their Gold,”
“Jesse James’s Two-Million-Dollar Treasure,”
“The Last Cave with the Iron Door,”
and, perhaps most intriguing of all, “The Mystery of Cascorillo-A Lost” City.”
This is a book about quests over trails dim before the turn of the century. It is about early peoples, Mound Builders, Vikings, conquistadors, explorers, outlaw, gold seekers. The author has spent years tracking down the stories and hours listening to the old-timers’ tales of their searches.
Wilson has provided maps, both detailed modem ones and photographs of early treasure maps and has richly illustrated the book with pictures of the sites that gave rise to the tales. .
For armchair travelers, never-say-die treasure hunters, historians, and chroniclers and aficionados of western lore, this is an absorbing and delightful book. And who knows? The reader may find gold!
“Lost Bonanzas, Tales of the Legendary Lost Mines of the American West”
Author: Harry Sinclair Drago
Publisher: Bramhall House, New York, New York
A great reference book for anyone hunting lost mines in the West
1966 Dodd & Mead hardcover. No ISBN. Harry Sinclair Drago. Tales and stories about the lost mines of the western United states.
“America’s Lost Treasures”
Author: Michael Paul Henson
Publisher: Unknown
Well researched. The author is very knowledgeable on lost treasure in America.
“Of Men and Gold, The History and Evidence of Spanish Gold Mines in the West”
Author: Stephen B. Shaffer
Publisher: Unknown
Excellent book. The author has done extensive field work on signs and symbols used by the Spanish.
“Fell’s Complete Guide to Buried Treasure, Land & Sea”
Author: Lieut. Harry E. Rieseberg
Publisher: Frederic Fell, Inc. New York, New York
A must for any treasure hunter’s library.
“The Lost Treasure of Cocos Island”
Authors: Ralph Hancock and Julian A. Weston
Publisher: Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York, Edinburgh and Toronto
A must for anyone interested in treasure stories of Costa Rica. This book is very hard to find but well worth the effort.
“Golden Treasures of the San Juan”
Authors: Temple H. Cornelius and John B. Marshall
Publisher: Swallow Press
Excellent book on lost mines and treasures of the South Western part of the U.S.A.
Golden Treasures of the San Juan contains fabulous stories of lost mines, bullion, and valuable prospects of one of the most beautiful mountain areas of the United States. Many of the stories are based on the personal adventures of author Cornelius.
When the Indian Mountain Lands (the San Juan) were ceded in 1874, the wild region was thrown open to prospectors seeking its gold and silver riches. Many prospects were valuable discoveries, yet were lost and became legendary mines. Further, the Spanish explorers had been through this area much earlier with their bullion, and their caches added to the legends of gold discovered or to be discovered. The authors of this book trace complete stories about these long-lost hoards.